Gunderson filed as a candidate in District 3, which includes the Benton County portions of Sartell and precincts 3 and 4 in Sauk Rapids.

McMahon, a former Benton County sheriff, has served three terms on the county board and previously filed as a candidate for re-election.

Gunderson ran unopposed for mayor in 2012 after two terms on the City Council.

Last year, he pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence and received a 15-day jail sentence. He was arrested in mid-February after driving his vehicle off a Sauk Rapids street and into a yard. Gunderson's blood alcohol content was 0.26 in a urine test taken 90 minutes after the crash, more than three times the legal limit.

In a news release, Gunderson said his decision to run for county board is "fueled by my continued desire to serve, my drive to represent the citizens of Benton County, Sauk Rapids and Sartell, and to move things in a positive direction."

In the past year, Gunderson became a student and recent graduate of St. Cloud Technical & Community College, the release stated. He is employed full-time as a certified nursing assistant at a local senior care center.

Follow Kirsti Marohn on Twitter @kirstimarohn

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